Holder for feeding punched tape

ABSTRACT

The holder comprises an adjustable frame arranged to rest on the upper rim of an open top waste basket and support a roll of punched computer tape for unreeling by rotation about a horizontal axis upon feeding of the tape endwise through a punched tape reader.

United States Patent Adamczyk 1 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] HOLDER FOR FEEDINGPUNCHED [56] References Cited TAPE UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] x2232 g' 8397,558 2/1889 Lumley ..222/10s.3 x 44685 2,825,469 3/1958 Watkins et a1..211/105.3

3,306,544 2/ 1967 Davis ..242/55 [22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 PrimaryExaminer-George F. Mautz [21] Appl 83696 Assistant Examiner-Gregory A.Walters Attorney-John Harrow Leonard [52] US. Cl ..242/55, 242/552 51Int. Cl. ..B65h 75/02 [571 ABSTRACT Field of Search -2, The holdercomprises an adjustable frame arranged to 242/5553; 211/1053, 45;223/106, 107; ZZZ/105.3

rest on the upper rim of an open top waste basket and support a roll ofpunched computer tape for unreeling by rotation about a horizontal axisupon feeding of the tape endwise through a punched tape reader. 8Clains, 4 Drawing Figures HOLDER FOR FEEDING PUNCHED TAPE BACKGROUND 1.Field of Invention be rigid and integral with the body portion 4. Thearm 7, however, is separately formed and is telescopically received inthe body portion 4 for adjustment endwise to extended and retractedpositions. For this purpose,

The invention is directed to the field of detachable 5 the arm 7 has anelongated slot 8 through which a bolt supports for open top receptacles.

2. Description of the Prior Art Punched tapes are fed into the readers,passed therethrough, and returned to the outside by a feed mechanismbuilt into the reader. Quite frequently, during the production of afinal tape, short lengths of tape are punched and then fed through thereader for checking and returned thereby to the outside for such editingor corrections as may be necessary. Heretofore, the practice has beenfor the operator to hold a roll of punched tape in his fingers so thatit can rotate and unreel as a result of the feed mechanism of the readerpulling endwise on the tape, and to allow the returned tape to drop intoa waste basket. Having checked the particular length of tape, theoperator then takes the tape out of the basket and rolls it up bywinding it about his finger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a framewhich can be detachably secured to the rim of an open top receptacle sothat the frame will be constrained from lateral displacement. The framecarries a horizontal pintle on which the roll of punched tape issupported DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a frame embodying the principles of the present invention,showing the frame installed on the rim of the open top receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the frame illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a supporting frame 1 is shown in connectionwith a reader indicated at Cand an open top waste basket 2 having aboutits open top a rim 3. In the form illustrated, the basket is rectangularor square at the top. However, the frame of the present invention isequally applicable to waste baskets or receptacles of which the open topis curvilinear or polygonal.

The rim 3 comprises a radially outwardly extending horizontal flange 3aand depending outer peripheral flange 3b. The frame 1 comprises a bodyportion 4 carrying at least three arms 5, 6, and 7, which preferablyradiate from a common center. The arms 5 and 6 may 9, carried in thebody portion 4, is received. A nut 10 is provided for clamping the arm 7fixedly in selected adjusted positions endwise of the arm 7.

The outer end portions of the three arms 5, 6, and 7 provide supportingmeans which rest upon the rim 3 of the waste basket. Means are providedto constrain the frame to a fixed position laterally of the open top ofthe waste basket. In the form illustrated, a simple connecting means isprovided by forming on the underside of v the arms, respectively,notches such as indicated at 1 l, which are adapted to receive the upperrim of the receptacle.

The arm 6 provides a pintle for supporting a roll 12 of punched tape, tobe fed into the reader, so that the roll can rotate about a horizontalaxis. For this purpose, the upper exposed portion of the arm 6 is madesemicylindrical, as indicated at 13, so as to permit free rotation ofthe roll 12 supported thereon.

With the notches l1 engaged with the rim 3 of the waste basket, theframe 1 is constrained from lateral displacement whether the open top ofthe basket is rectangular, circular or other shape. However, it isdesirable that the frame be such as it can be lifted readily upwardlyoff the rim for installing another roll on the arm 6. At the same time,it is desirable that the frame be relatively steady. To this end,resiliently expansible and contractable cushions 14 are provided in thearms 5, 6, and 7, respectively, and are such that in their normalunstressed condition, they extend from the outer ends of the armsinwardly toward the body portion 4 partway across the notches so thatthey are compressed on installation of the frame on the rim and thusassist in steadying the frame in position.

Preferably all of the frame, including the body portion 4 and arms 5, 6,and 7 are of an inverted U-shaped cross section, as illustrated in FIG.4 in connection with the arm 6, and all except the arm 7 are integraland of a relatively stiff plastic material molded in one piece.

In order to installthe frame, the bolt 9 and nut 10 are loosened, thenotches of the respective arms are engaged with the rim of thereceptacle, the frame is adjusted accordingly by adjustment of the arm7, and the bolt 9 and nut 10 are then tightened.

With this arrangement the frame is prevented from lateral displacementbut can be tilted readily for removing the roll 12 from the arm 6 andinstalling a new roll.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A punched tape holder comprising a body, said body including at leastthree supporting arms connected together and spaced apart from eachother circurnferentially of a predetermined axis and arranged to rest ona horizontal rim of an open top receptacle;

at least one of the arms having means for adjustably extending andcontracting said one arm transversely of, and relative to, said axis foradjustment of the body transversely of said axis to different positionsparallel to the plane of said rim whereby said one of the arms can beadjusted to be positioned on open top receptacles having openings ofdifferent sizes, while the other two arms also test on said open top;

connecting means on at least one of the arms for cooperation with therim of said receptacle for restraining the body from lateraldisplacement relative to said open top; and

one of said arms including a rigid pintle shaped for receiving thereonan annular roll of punched tape by insertion of the pintle endwisethrough the central passage of the roll, and having a roll supportingportion between its ends shaped to lie in said central passage andsupport the roll for rotation during unreeling of the roll by pullingendwise on the tape.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said pintle is a portionof one of the arms which arm has an outer free end receivable throughsaid passage.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the pintle portion of saidone of the arms is rounded in cross section at least on the uppersurface on which a supported roll would rest.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the said three armsradiate from a common center.

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein the connecting means areon at least two of the arms, respectively, and each connecting means isnear the outer end of its associated arm.

6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein two of said arms areintegral with each other, and said one arm which is extensible andcontractable includes said extending and contracting means, whereby saidlastmentioned arm is adjustably positionable in different positions.

7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means arelocated on at least two of the arms and comprise notches in the arms andare open downwardly when the body is in operating position.

8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein resilient cushioning meansare carried by the arms and are resiliently compressible and expansiblein a direction transversely of said axis, and, in their normalunstressed condition, extend in said direction partway across thenotches, respectively.

1. A punched tape holder comprising a body, said body including at leastthree supporting arms connected together and spaced apart from eachother circumferentially of a predetermined axis and arranged to rest ona horizontal rim of an open top receptacle; at least one of the armshaving means for adjustably extending and contracting said one armtransversely of, and relative to, said axis for adjustment of the bodytransversely of said axis to different positions parallel to the planeof said rim whereby said one of the arms can be adjusted to bepositioned on open top receptacles having openings of different sizes,while the other two arms also rest on said open top; connecting means onat least one of the arms for cooperation with the rim of said receptaclefor restraining the body from lateral displacement relative to said opentop; and one of said arms including a rigid pintle shaped for receivingthereon an annular roll of punched tape by insertion of the pintleendwise through the central passage of the roll, and having a rollsupporting portion between its ends shaped to lie in said centralpassage and support the roll for rotation during unreeling of the rollby pulling endwise on the tape.
 2. The structure according to claim 1wherein said pintle is a portion of one of the arms which arm has anouter free end receivable through said passage.
 3. The structureaccording to claim 2 wherein the pintle portion of said one of the armsis rounded in cross section at least On the upper surface on which asupported roll would rest.
 4. The structure according to claim 1 whereinthe said three arms radiate from a common center.
 5. The structureaccording to claim 4 wherein the connecting means are on at least two ofthe arms, respectively, and each connecting means is near the outer endof its associated arm.
 6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein twoof said arms are integral with each other, and said one arm which isextensible and contractable includes said extending and contractingmeans, whereby said last-mentioned arm is adjustably positionable indifferent positions.
 7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein theconnecting means are located on at least two of the arms and comprisenotches in the arms and are open downwardly when the body is inoperating position.
 8. The structure according to claim 7 whereinresilient cushioning means are carried by the arms and are resilientlycompressible and expansible in a direction transversely of said axis,and, in their normal unstressed condition, extend in said directionpartway across the notches, respectively.